R 212022Z MAY 20
FM COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA
TO NAVRESFOR
NAVOSO
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
COMNAVRESFORCOM NORFOLK VA
COMNAVAIRFORES SAN DIEGO CA
COMNAVIFORES FORT WORTH TX
COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA
BT
UNCLAS
ALNAVRESFOR 012/20//
MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/N5/MAY//
SUBJ/NAVY RESERVE FORCE POLICY FOR COVID-19 UPDATE 2//
REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/261427ZMAR20//
REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/212136ZAPR20//
REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/152131ZMAY20//
REF/D/MEMO/OPNAV/11OCT18//
REF/E/ARTICLE/BUPERS/08MAY2018//
REF/F/MSG/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/021916ZOCT18//
REF/G/MSG/COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA/192235ZMAR20//
REF/H/ARTICLE/COMNAVRESFORCOM/19JUL18//
NARR/REF A is NAVADMIN 089/20, Voluntary Extensions for Active
Component Navy Members with Approved Separation or Retirement Dates.
REF B is NAVADMIN 116/20, Navy Mitigation Measures in Response to
Coronavirus Outbreak Update 4. REF C is NAVADMIN 144/20,
Recommencement of Selection Boards and Announcement of Revised
Schedule. REF D is the Fiscal Year 2019 and 2020 Navy Reserve
Officer Retention and Continuation Policy and Plan Update. REF E is
MILPERSMAN Article 1160-20, High Year Tenure. REF F is
ALNAVRESFOR 020/18, Increased High Year Tenure Waiver Opportunities
for Drilling Reservists. REF G is ALNAVRESFOR 009/20, Navy Reserve
Enhanced Telecommuting Procedures. REF H is RESPERSMAN
Article 1300-010, Selected Reserve Assignments.//
POC/ARMSTRONG, ERRIN/CAPT/COMNAVRESFORCOM/TEL (757) 322-5609/E-MAIL:
ERRIN.ARMSTRONG(AT)NAVY.MIL//
POC/EDMONDS, GARRETT/COMNAVAIRFORES/TEL: (757) 322-5603/E-MAIL:
GARRETT.EDMONDS(AT)NAVY.MIL//
POC/DORRIS, MICHAEL/COMNAVIFORES/TEL:(817) 782-7107/E-MAIL:
MICHAEL.DORRIS(AT)NAVY.MIL//
RMKS/1. While the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic has
challenged the Navy Reserve Force in many ways, we have adapted and
overcome on several fronts. First, we proved the distributed
mobilization process can work in a high-pressure environment, as
we successfully mobilized over a thousand Sailors in response to
relief efforts on a global scale. Second, thanks
to the ingenuity of our Reservists from across the Force, our
efforts to ensure maximum flexibility have made a difference. For
example, the rate of completion in April for Inactive Duty for
Training (IDT) drills was only 25% less than the rate of IDT
completions for the same month in 2019. Third, we continue to
leverage a wide array of communication and support tools, such as
social media, Microsoft Teams Commercial Virtual Remote, and a 24/7
Chaplain Hotline. These tools enable us to overcome the challenges
of social distancing, while still connecting with each other
virtually. While we take pride in what we have accomplished, we
still have more to do. Our priorities for the Force remain the same:
(1) taking care of our Sailors and families; (2) meeting the mission
with speed and agility, and (3) maintaining readiness. As state and
local officials begin to re-open communities, we must continue to
focus on the health and safety of our Navy Reservists and their
families.
2. Drill Weekends. June drill weekends will continue to be held
virtually. The postponement of regular, on-site drill
weekends is extended through 30 Jun 2020. Navy Operational Support
Centers (NOSCs) will remain open at a manning level determined by
the Commanding Officer to support mission essential Inactive Duty
for Training (IDT) requirements during previously published drill
weekends. In order to maintain readiness at the highest level
possible, Navy Reserve Activities (NRAs) and unit leadership shall
use maximum flexibility and available technology to conduct virtual
drill weekends and individual telework.
3. Telework. The requirements waived in ref (g) are extended until
further notice to facilitate virtual drill weekends and the phased
re-opening of NOSCs as conditions permit. Service members are
encouraged to complete the required paperwork to enable telework
opportunities following the expiration of the waiver.
4. AT Waivers. The expectation is that SELRES will complete their
AT in FY20. COVID-19 reduced some active duty participation
opportunities this year, however, members are still
encouraged to continue to seek alternative opportunities to the
maximum extent possible. If you are seeking AT opportunities and
your gaining command does not have AT availability, please contact
your NOSC or visit the ZipServe site at
https://locker.private.navyreserve.navy.mil/zipserve/.
In order to maximize participation, CNRFC adjusts execution and
waiver policies as outlined below:
a. AT waiver deadline for known personal hardships including
COVID-19 related is adjusted to 30 June 2020.
b. Participation waivers shall be submitted through standard
procedures to the NOSC/NRA Commanding Officer. COs shall give
due consideration to the effects of COVID-19. However, SELRES
are expected to demonstrate due diligence in pursuing AT
participation requirements throughout the FY.
c. To allow for maximum flexibility, a waiver to policy has
been issued to allow telework for AT/ADT for SELRES under certain
circumstances. Consult your unit chain of command and Operational
Support Officer (OSO) for further details.
d. As travel restrictions relax, OSO/Unit Leadership must work
together to identify AT opportunities for unit members. Those
members not needed for FY20 support should be cleared to seek
other participation opportunities.
5. NOSC Re-Opening: Expect guidance to be distributed via an
ALNAVRESFOR message in the coming weeks for the expanded opening of
NOSCs/NRAs for operations.
6. Boards: Navy Personnel Command (NPC) has announced the
recommencement of selection boards. Ref (c) details NPC’s plan to
resume boards. The FY21 APPLY board is scheduled for 7-19 Dec 2020.
An updated COMNAVRESFORNOTE 5400 will be released in the coming
weeks.
7. Direct Commission Program: Until further notice, Officer
Development School (ODS) class sizes will be restricted to 100-110
seats to accommodate the physical distancing plan. Remaining Reserve
FY20 seats are allocated and controlled by CNRFC N11. CNRFC N11 will
announce if there are any additional seats available upon
notification from Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN). FY21 ODS
class sizes will also be restricted to 100-110 seats until further
notice. In accordance with COMNAVRESFORINST 1120.3B, any DCO
(traditional DCOs, LDOs, and CWOs) who will exceed the one year
requirement must have an approved waiver on file before they pass
their tenth month of commissioned service.
8. High Year Tenure (HYT):
A. The following are ongoing manning actions of the Navy Reserve
during the COVID-19 recovery. Full Time Support officers and
enlisted will follow the guidance contained in ref (a). Selected
Reserve (SELRES) and Individual Ready Reserve - Voluntary Training
Unit (IRR-VTU) Sailors will follow the guidance promulgated below:
1. Enlisted HYT Waivers. Opportunities for enlisted HYT waivers
are ongoing for SELRES and IRR-VTU Sailors who desire to
continue drilling. The waiver process will follow the
procedures established in ref (e). To maintain community
health, requests are subject to the guidelines in ref (f). HYT
requests will be considered for up to two year and requests
will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Preferential
consideration will be given to those who are interested in
serving in undermanned communities to support critical billets
and not all ratings and paygrades will be open. BUPERS-352
maintains a list of available ratings and paygrades that are
open for waiver requests. The list will be updated on a
quarterly basis, and is available at:
https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/community/
selres/Pages/SELRESOveriews.aspx
a) Interested SELRES in open ratings and paygrades submit
their command endorsed requests to BUPERS-352.
Approved requests will be forwarded to CNRFC N12 for
billet assignment processing in accordance with ref (h).
To reduce administrative processing, applications for
ratings and paygrades not on the open list will be
returned with no action taken.
b) IRR-VTU submit requests to PERS 913 at:
https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/
reservepersonnelmgmt/enlisted/Pages/HYT.aspx
2. Officer Continuation and Retention. SELRES/IRR-VTU officers
will continue to be processed in accordance with ref (d).
3. Re-affiliation Opportunities. Recently separated service
members who are interested in re-affiliation with the Navy
Reserve are encouraged to contact a prior service enlisted or
officer recruiter for details on opportunities available.
B. Points of contact. For SELRES enlisted HYT policy related
questions and waiver process questions, commands and members should
contact:
1. CDR Joshua Lipps, Reserve Enlisted Community Manager,
BUPERS-352, (901) 874-4511, or e-mail at
joshua.lipps(at)navy.mil
2. CDR Todd Winn, Reserve Personnel Assignments Department Head,
CNRFC N12, (757) 322-2261, or via e-mail at
todd.winn(at)navy.mil
For IRR-VTU enlisted HYT related questions and waiver process
questions, commands and members should contact:
3. PSC Brian Paramo, Reserve Enlisted Personnel Management Branch,
PERS-913, (901) 874-4556, or e-mail at brian.paramo(at)navy.mil
For officer related questions and process questions, commands and
members should contact:
4. CDR Heidi Cochran, Reserve Officer Community Manager,
BUPERS-351, (901) 874-3482, or e-mail at
heidi.e.cochran(at)navy.mil
IRR-VTU officers contact,
5. LT Shahana Brown, Reserve Officer Personnel Management Branch
Head, PERS-911, (901) 874-4713, or email at
shahana.brown(at)navy.mil.
9. Civilian Personnel Guidance: We will continue the current posture
of maximum telework flexibility for civilian personnel. Civilian
employees may be experiencing high levels of anxiety regarding
returning to work and ongoing pandemic-related issues such as family
health issues or child care concerns. The Department of Navy
Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP) is available 24 hours
per day to provide immediate access to counseling services,
including financial counseling. The contact number is
1-844-DON-CEAP (1-844-366-2327). Employees with a disability who
believe they may need an accommodation to perform the essential
functions of their positions may request an accommodation under the
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Program. Employees should initiate an
RA request by contacting their supervisors directly. Employees and
supervisors may obtain more information on the RA Program by
contacting the EEO Department (N00EEO) at (757) 322-5666.
10. Additional COVID-19 related information can be found on the
My Navy Reserve Homeport SharePoint Portal at
HTTPS://PRIVATE.NAVYRESERVE.NAVY.MIL/ and support is available on
the 24-7 Chaplain Hotline at 757-322-5650 and the Psychological,
Health, Outreach Program (PHOP) at 866-578-7467.
11. 101 Critical Days of Summer: This has been a long three months
for all of us and our families. As we go into this Memorial Day
weekend, I know many of you are anxious to enjoy summer recreational
activities. I want to reinforce that we must maintain COVID-19
protection and mitigation measures, to protect our Force.
Additionally, I am counting on each of you to use those measures
and sound risk management when participating in recreational
activities. Stay Safe!
12. Released by RADM J.A. Schommer, Deputy Commander, Navy Reserve
Force.//
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